The Red and Black

Issue date: 8/22/08 Section: First & Goal

Media Credit: Courtesy EA Sports [Click to enlarge]

The so-called pundits have their fun day in and day out, predicting scores, critiquing teams, and pointing out their strengths and weaknesses. Well, this time, First & Goal decided to let something that only kind of knows something about college football do the work-an XBOX 360. F&G simulated Georgia's 2008 season, and has all the scores, stats, and, of course, a little analysis (the Sugar Bowl, again? Really?).

GAME 1

Georgia 56
Georgia Southern 6

Stafford: 17 for 21, 195 yards,
2 TD, INT
Moreno: 15 carries for 141 yards, 2 TD
Massaquoi: 9 receptions for 109 yards, 2 TD

Our Take: Well, yeah. Might argue that Southern could put up a few more points late in the game against Georgia's second- and/or third-string defenses, but the rest of the stats seem to ring true. The arrival of UGA VII and finally being able to do something about those expectations have the Bulldogs fired up.


GAME 2

Georgia 42
Central Michigan 14

Stafford: 22 for 27, 263 yards,
5 TD
Moreno: 15 carries for 99 yards, TD
Massaquoi: 9 receptions for
108 yards, 3 TD

Our Take: Again, this seems about right. The Chippewas' darkhorse Heisman candidate Dan LeFevour is more mobile than Hawaii's Colt Brennan, but the dissimilarities may end there. Look for LeFevour to be on his back looking up at Dannell Ellerbe, Jeff Owens & Co. a good deal.


GAME 3

Georgia 31
South Carolina 21

Stafford: 22 for 32, 261 yards, 2 TD, INT; 13 rushes for -24 yards
Moreno: 13 for 71, TD
Massaquoi: 9 receptions for 101
Harris and Durham catch TDs

Our Take: Steve Spurrier always finds some way to get the best of the Bulldogs, and this early season trip to Columbia could be a scary one. If Georgia pulls it out, it could be even closer than this sim predicts, especially if Stafford has anything remotely resembling his rushing line above. There's just something about that ball coach.


GAME 4

Arizona State 31
Georgia 28

***ASU wins in fourth quarter. With Georgia up 28-24 with 5:59 left, Sun Devil QB Rudy Carpenter 24-yard pass to Michael Jones***

Stafford: 20 for 30, 276 yards, 2 TD, INT; rushing TD
Moreno: 14 rushes for 84 yards
Harris: 5 receptions for 130 yards

Our Take: In all honesty, don't see this happening. It's a little different because it's a road game, but reference the Sugar Bowl, as well as the Oklahoma State and Boise State games. A solid showing in "big" non-conference games.


GAME 5

Georgia 45
Alabama 31

Stafford: 21 for 33, 326 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT; 12 carries for 50 yards, TD
Moreno: 13 carries for 68 yards
Chandler: 2 receptions for 84 yards, TD

Our Take: Stafford turned Tebow = a Georgia win. He's not as mobile as Tebow, but 50 rushing yards every now and then is not out of the question. No looking back to the loss, nor ahead at the redemption game for the Bulldogs as they launch into the meat of their SEC schedule.


GAME 6

Georgia 45
Tennessee 28

Stafford: 19 for 27, 377 yards, 3 TD
Moreno: 9 carries for 55 yards, 2 TD
Massaquoi: 9 receptions for 289 yards, TD, long 67

Our Take: And you thought USA Basketball was the Redeem Team. The lines from Stafford and MoMass would shatter their previous career highs, and while the Bulldogs will probably be as fired up as ever to avenge their embarrassing loss in Knoxville last year, I wouldn't expect those types of individual numbers.


GAME 7

Georgia 42
Vanderbilt 0

Stafford: 17 for 19, 186 yards, 3 TD
King: 9 rushes for 49 yards
Moreno: 7 carries for 48 yards
Harris: 8 receptions for 99 yards, TD
Massaquoi: 4 receptions for 93 yards, 2 TD

Our Take: The biggest headline from this game would be King's emergence, and another huge game from Harris, who, along with Michael Moore, could be a breakout wide receiver in '08.


GAME 8

LSU 38
Georgia 31

***6:43 left: Moreno 4-yard TD run pulls Georgia within three at 31-28 with 2:32 left: Blair Walsh 42-yard FG ties game at 31-31 0:28 left: 3-yard TD pass to Demetrius Byrd gives LSU the win***

Stafford: 28 for 33, 364 yards
Moreno: 14 rushes for 100 yards, 3 TD
Harris: 12 receptions for 164 yds

Our Take: We knew this stretch of games was going to be tough, and the Bulldogs didn't start it off well. Stafford and Moreno go big, but it wasn't enough to pull out the win. It would be hard to be surprised by a W or L.


GAME 9

Georgia 45
Florida 25

***17-13 Georgia lead at halftime, Bulldogs break it open in the second half***

Stafford: 21 for 29, 371 yards, 3 TD
Moreno: 19 carries for 139 yards, 2 TD; 4 receptions for 106 yards, TD
Massaquoi: 8 receptions for 161 yards, TD

Tim Tebow: 24 for 41, 359 yards, 3 TD; 14 carries for 96 yards

Our Take: Looks like Georgia got to that weak Florida secondary pretty well in the second half. Knowing they're up against the wall if they have any championship dreams (BCS or SEC) to salvage, Stafford stepped up and bombed it to Massaquoi and Moreno, who had a huge game. This very well could be the way the World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party (oops) pans out.


GAME 10

Georgia 44
Kentucky 14

Stafford: 24 for 35, 350 yards, 3 TD
Moreno: 14 carries for 124 yards, TD
Harris: 7 receptions for 139 yards, 2 TD

Our Take: Um, yeah. Kentucky.


GAME 11

Georgia 48
Auburn 24

Stafford: 26 for 37, 415 yards, 5 TD, INT
Moreno: 14 carries for 101 yards, TD
Massaquoi: 8 receptions for 183 yards, TD
Chandler: 2 receptions for 89 yards, 2 TD

Our Take: Wow. Don't know about the severity of this one-it looks like Georgia's defense handled the Tigers' new no-huddle spread offense pretty well. If Stafford has a game like this, he will be headed for the NFL draft. The Bulldogs may be a little more tired than this at the end of this four-week span, but they have the talent to overcome it.


GAME 12

Georgia 28
Georgia Tech 14

Stafford: 18 for 27, 159 yards, 2 TD, 3 INT
Moreno: 11 rushes for 59 yards
Harris: 6 receptions for 47 yards, TD

Our Take: Looks like that fatigue is finally starting to show, but it shouldn't be any problem for the Bulldogs to close out the season with their eighth straight win against the Jackets, tying Tech's record winning streak in the series.


GAME 13

SEC Championship
Georgia 52, Arkansas 27

Stafford: 23 for 31, 314 yards, 5 TD
Moreno: 13 carries for 113 yards, TD
Harris: 11 receptions for 117 yards, 3 TD

Our Take: Arkansas finished the regular season 6-6 on the game, but still managed to somehow get into the conference championship game. If that happens, look for a very similar result to what we have here-Petrino's good, but not that good, and the Bulldogs will be tired of hearing about not winning their conference last season. They'll be out for blood, especially Stafford.


GAME 14

All-State Sugar Bowl
Georgia 34, Illinois 3

Stafford: 14 for 22, 195 yards, 3 TD
Moreno: 11 carries for 83 yards
Massaquoi: 6 receptions for 83 yards, TD

Our Take: Despite going 11-2, winning the SEC (regular season and championship game), besting arguably the toughest schedule in the country and finishing strong, the Bulldogs are relegated to the Sugar Bowl. Again. That said, another SEC team destroys another Big Ten team in a big bowl game. For those interested, Ohio State tops BYU (yeah, I know) for the national
championship.


SEASON STATS

Stafford: 292 for 403, 4052 yards, 41 TD, 9 INT; third in Heisman Trophy voting, Second-Team All-America

Moreno: 182 carries for 1285 yards and 14 TD

Massaquoi: 97 receptions for 1453 yards and 14 TD, Second-Team All-America

Dannell Ellerbe: 71 tackles, 17 TFL, 3 sacks, 2 INT

Reshad Jones: 32 tackles, 4 INT

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